odd shower 'shelf' - suggest an expedient remedy

Among the many issues with a house we're looking at is the shower shown below:

With a normal shower curtain installed, water would just run right out from the side of the 'shelf' under the shower head.

What are some GRM options for making this shower usable, preferably with minimal or zero removal of what's already there?

I would go with a frameless glass shower enclosure across the whole width, but that's in the $1500-$2000 range for a nice custom one.

For a more budget-friendly option, use a regular curtain the full width of the upper part.  Install a piece of 1/4" glass, matching the shelf depth, from the top of the shelf to a few inches below the curtain rod.  Use a channel on the bottom and right sides, set in sealant.  You can also use minimalist brackets on the side.

[edit]  Like this, but only the size of the area above the shelf:

Cheapest/Easiest option- They make little plastic diverters that you could stick/silicone onto the flat that would divert water down and into the tub area...

Best option-  Have a local glass company cut you a rectangular pane that runs up either to the ceiling or to a height with a finished edge... silicone/fasten into place

How about a rainfall shower head on a long pipe out from the wall, so that the water falls in the middle of the tub and not on the shelf  

Otherwise I like Duke's ideas 

Extend the shower head so that it's well past the shelf.

If it's centered over the window you can put on a raincoat and look out to passers-by on a sunny day. extra points for thunder effects.

Unless that's a short tub which they make, I've only heard of 5' shower rods and curtains. Along with the shelf width glass you'll need some sort of bracket to hold that end of the shower rod.

Edit: Never mind, they make up to 8' shower rods. Just need two shower curtains.

Amazon.com: shower rod 6 foot

Regardless where the shower head dumps water, it will still get on the shelf, and unimpeded, run off the edge onto the floor.  I agree with the glass partition, shelf to shower head height.

Buy a glass corner shelf the same width as the existing shelf and glue it in place with silicone or similar. 

Edit: You could also build something similar out of Starboard. It cuts and sands similar to wood but is plastic and mildew resistant. 

2nd edit: IMHO, those shower heads are terrible. I'd start by getting rid of it. 

Put a pitch to the shelf, 1-2" higher in the rear.  Still holds shampoo but water heads to the tub.

Instead of glass could you use Lexan from the big box for a less complicated answer than custom cut glass?

This is another perfect example of why we need time machines.  You could go back to whenever the moron built  that, or renovated to create that, and smack him in the back of the head.

Find a cheap aquarium that fits the shelf, fill with soil and plants to absorb the water that hits it instead of running off?

Or the glass divider sounds like the easiest and quickest option. 

I would consider grabbing some PVC trim from the millwork aisle at the box store.  Either door stop or shoe molding, maybe? Glue it down along the outside edge of the shelf so that any water going over that way will not go over it.  That doesn't help if you have water hitting the curtain, but it would keep any water from running off the shelf.  $10 fix and it's done in an afternoon.

Another thing... before you make a solution to a problem that might not exist, put a level on that shelf and check it both ways.  It's possible that whoever installed that did it the right way and had it slightly tilted either to the left or toward the tub.  It might not be an issue.

Streetwiseguy said:

This is another perfect example of why we need time machines.  You could go back to whenever the moron built  that, or renovated to create that, and smack him in the back of the head.

I used to live in a house with similar.

This is what happens when the house used to have a freestanding bath tub with exposed plumbing, and a modern bathtub is installed.

In my house's case, the toilet was pointed at the water fixtures, so when they built a 6' high wall to enclose the plumbing and give a place for the shower head to attach to, the toilet was so close to said wall that you needed to sit on it sideways.

Our family lexicon grew because of that house.  A "sideways toilet" is a really bad implementation of something, that you learn to adapt to and just accept.

Furr out the wall above the shelf so it's just a 5' shower. 

It should be mentioned that any glass used must be tempered.

Thanks for all the suggestions. I let y'all know if it goes anywhere. There will be more questions if it does.